The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Harper, Jane. Exiles. Flatiron Books, 2022.

Jane Harper's novel Exiles is written from the third person point of view and in the past tense. Set in the South Australian town of Marralee, the narrative elapses linearly. The author complicates this otherwise familiar narrative form via an accumulating number of flashbacks and a series of point of view shifts in the novel's latter chapters. The following summary largely abides by a linear mode of explanation.

A year after Marralee local Kim Gillespie disappeared at the town's Valley Annual Food and Wine Festival, Melbourne police investigator Aaron Falk visited Marralee for his friends' baby's christening. Because Falk failed to solve the mystery of Kim's disappearance 12 months prior, returning to Marralee flooded him with haunting memories.

Falk arrived at his friends Greg and Rita Raco's house. While Raco was also on the police force, Raco's brother Charlie ran the family vineyard where they all resided together. Over dinner, the family discussed the evening's upcoming event. It was the festival's opening night. Charlie's and Kim's teenage daughter Zara had organized an appeal on the festival grounds. Although the family hoped the appeal would reveal some new information about Kim's whereabouts, Falk was doubtful.

Throughout his time at the festival, Falk observed his surroundings carefully. He studied Zara's behavior, curious what her actions implied. However, he was even more interested in Kim's husband Rohan's demeanor.

Kim and Rohan had married not long prior to her disappearance. Shortly after their daughter Zoe was born, trouble developed between them. However, because the couple no longer lived in Marralee, all of their family members and close high school friends were unaware of Kim's depression or Rohan's violence.

When Falk ran into Gemma Tozer, he felt embarrassed and overwhelmed. Sixteen months prior, he and Gemma had had an impromptu date. They had both been waiting at a bar for Raco. When they realized that Raco was not coming, they decided to have drinks and dinner together. Although their attraction was mutual, Gemma declined to give Falk her number.

While out for a run one day, Falk ran into Gemma's stepson Joel Tozer. Seeing the teenager, he remembered what Gemma had told him. Six years prior, Gemma's late husband and Joel's father Dean was killed in a hit-and-run accident. Because the car and the driver were never found, Joel's grief over Dean's passing remained unresolved.

Throughout his weeklong stay in Marralee, Falk became increasingly determined to solve both Kim's and Dean's cases. He could not help but notice the coincidences surrounding and the parallels between the two mysteries. He repeatedly revisited the festival grounds and the surrounding reservoir and bushland, desperate for answers.

Meanwhile, Falk and Gemma decided to pursue a relationship despite the obvious challenges a long distance arrangement would present. When the Racos learned that they were seeing each other, they offered Falk a job with the vineyard so that he could remain in Marralee.

A conversation Falk had with Gemma granted him clarity on Kim’s case. He realized that Kim had never been at the festival. Indeed, while Rohan and Kim were driving into Marralee for a visit, Rohan pulled off at an overlook, strangled Kim, and shoved her body over the precipice. He had done so because he was convinced that Zoe was in fact Charlie’s baby and not his own. He staged her disappearance in order to cover his crime.

Shortly after the local police recovered Kim’s remains from the overlook, Falk had a revelation about Dean’s case. He soon proved that the police sergeant’s late daughter had killed Dean and that the sergeant had helped her cover the crime to protect her.

Over the following months, Falk settled into a new life in Marralee. After the sergeant was dismissed from the force, Falk’s friends encouraged him to take his job. Falk realized he was the happiest he had ever been.